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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  Career day

by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
May 16, 2008

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Dr. Emily Orille, a parishioner of St. Anastasia Parish in Troy who practices emergency medicine at the Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center, demonstrates with Holy Redeemer seventh-grader Richard Wynn how to take blood pressure.

Detroit — Young children might dream of becoming firefighters and doctors, but middle school isn't too early for students to start seriously considering those careers.

That was the idea behind a career day recently held for most of the Catholic middle schools in Detroit — to get them thinking in depth about possible future jobs, so they can "keep their eyes on the prize," as Our Lady of Guadalupe Middle School principal Meghan Evoy said.

"We tell kids to study hard, follow their dreams, stay in school — but they don't have an idea of what they're driving for," she said. "Kids can only strive for what they know."

Careers featured ran the gamut, including musicians, physicians and computer technicians. William Kilburg, a seventh-grader at Holy Redeemer, said he enjoyed the presentations by the firefighter, as he liked learning about their protective gear and their work schedules.

"I'm interested a little now," he said.

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Meghan Evoy, principal of Our Lady of Guadeloupe Middle School for Girls, talks with students during lunch.

Many students learned things they didn't know about particular jobs. For example, Daniela Rodriguez, an eighth-grader at Our Lady of Guadalupe, learned that working at a bank was more than just counting out money — and that employees have different ways to signal to each other when there is an emergency.

Her classmate Krystal Buckman said she didn't realize before career day that there were so many different fields a doctor could specialize in, adding that she would be interested in becoming a pediatrician. But, "radio would be very interesting," she said.

Evoy said about 355 students from eight middle schools — Our Lady of Guadalupe, Holy Redeemer, St. Cecilia, St. Scholastica, Christ the King, Gesu, East Catholic and St. Mary of Redford — participated in the day.

Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic Detroit Fire Department Lieutenant Theresa Halsell tells students the benefits and sacrifices of being a firefighter.

"It definitely turned out to be a success," she said. "I think kids became aware of new opportunities. They were very enthusiastic about it." Joshua Chavarria, seventh-grader at Holy Redeemer, said the career of being a computer technician really stood out to him. Chavarria's classmate Jessica Micklash learned how much hard work is involved in being a professional musician, she said.

"You have to be really dedicated to music," she said.

Jonathan Moore, a seventh-grade student at Christ the King, said he'd consider a career as a computer technician, but he learned about careers new to him, too, such as pastoral ministry.

"It's been a very good day so far," he said at lunchtime. "All of the presenters really gave us insight into what they do."